Customs Duty on eBay shipments

[mangolover]

There was an earlier discussion on this topic, but it's a few years old, and I'm looking for current info. I'm considering ordering an item from Japan on eBay. It's a pretty conspicuous item, a keyboard (as in piano, not computer)—in the box something like 1.4 meters long and 9 kg. It will be sent by EMS, which I guess is express mail through the post office. There were different takes on this in the earlier discussion, but at this time, what is the likelihood I'll have to pay customs duty, and how would that work logistically. The address would be my condo in Pattaya. Would I get a notice to pick it up at the post office? The item would cost about 8000 bt and shipping about 2,800 bt. Any info would be appreciated.

[mogandave]

Legally you need to pay tax and duty, not sure what the duty would be for a keyboard, but 20% is pretty common.

Duty = (8,000 + 2,800) X 20% = 2,160

VAT = (8,000 + 2,800 + 2.160) X 7% = 907

They should call and send a notice.

[mangolover]

Thanks. I don't get why the shipping cost is included in the taxable sum, but that's consistent with what some said in the earlier discussion. If this were the total, in the end it's not THAT bad, and I would probably do it if I were confident it wouldn't come to more than that. The problem is uncertainty. In those old posts, some people spoke of being charged as much as 50%, in one case maybe even 100%.

[h90]

Legally you need to pay tax and duty, not sure what the duty would be for a keyboard, but 20% is pretty common.

Duty = (8,000 + 2,800) X 20% = 2,160

VAT = (8,000 + 2,800 + 2.160) X 7% = 907

They should call and send a notice.

Or go to the center (for us 1.5 hours driving) go there, wait 2 hours, explain what it is, pay less but loose a day.

[varun]

I assume this is a midi keyboard, judging by the price; not worth the hassle to get it from Japan.

I bought mine here new; Roland A-800 pro, works very well, around 11-12k baht or so if i remember correctly.

The price is good even by US standards; Amazon sells it for around $400.

Btw; import duty on audio items is 30%, not 20% (midi keyboard classifies as computer music gear)

They could charge you 100% duty, all depends on the mood of the customs guy inspecting your package.

[MrWorldwide]

This was my recent experience with Amazon - they collect a deposit to pay for the duties/VAT up front :

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/784124-amazon-refunded-part-of-my-estimated-import-duty/

As I pointed out in that post, paying ~40% of the purchase price in Import Duty+VAT isnt a big deal on a 70 USD purchase. Where it might be a very big deal is the DAC I want to buy next year - at 2300-2500 USD (they still havent finalised the price), that 40% figure could be a showstopper. Not sure how accurate this is post-coup, but give it a shot.

http://www.dutycalculator.com

[weegee]

mangolover...

As of ten minutes ago, i received $77USD of freight from China...

The total cost after they added TAX here was USD $164. So the tax was dearer than the items bought....all up around 110% tax

Confirm again, they tax everything with a baht sign on the paperwork...be careful.

I had no choice and HAD to use FEDEX....I tried to refuse, but no other option i was told...

If you can avoid FEDEX, you may be ok.

[MrWorldwide]

Jesus, weegee, they really went for the jugular on that consignment ! Kinda ironic that if we ship something from Thailand to HK, they dont pay VAT and in some cases they dont even have to pay import duty, at least per that calculator I linked to earlier.

[mangolover]

Thank you all for the comments. I think the overall message is that it's unpredictable and I might get shafted, so I shouldn't do it unless I really have no other choices. Varun, thanks for your suggestions, but I'm a professional musician and have reasons for wanting the specific model Yamaha that I was talking about.

Actually, right now I'm not in Thailand but at my other home on Guam. Originally, I thought I'd get it here, from the States, but even that has become problematic (though some years back I had much bigger and heavier keyboards shipped here by Musicians' Friend, via USPS, with no problem), PLUS it occurs to me that, carrying it into Thailand, although they are almost always inexplicably easy on us when we just say "Nothing to declare," something as conspicuous as this might draw more scrutiny.

My next step will be to contact the Yamaha outlets in Bangkok, see if they carry the item and what the price is. It will certainly be more expensive but, in the end, may save both trouble and money.

Cheers,

Rick

[mogandave]

Just bring it as oversized luggage.

[weegee]

Just bring it as oversized luggage.

Yes...i agree, thats the only way to go.....

[Gulfsailor]

Heading 9207. 10% duty. Or if you have the correct paperwork 0% under ASEAN-Japan FTA.

[weegee]

Heading 9207. 10% duty. Or if you have the correct paperwork 0% under ASEAN-Japan FTA.

+ freight costs + Vat + this +that...read the posts above it's been covered already.....

Just think first before you order anything to be sent into Thailand......Hopefully the PM will get into them soon too....it needs looking at.

[uptheos]

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/saved_calculations/view_details/190117697/

Change the figures as you want.

[weegee]

http://www.dutycalculator.com/new-import-duty-and-tax-calculation/saved_calculations/view_details/190117697/

Change the figures as you want.

Yeah i have tried this calculator before. But it never ends up right this end, win or lose....

I think I was just unlucky to have to use FEDEX in Thailand....

[h90]

Thanks. I don't get why the shipping cost is included in the taxable sum, but that's consistent with what some said in the earlier discussion. If this were the total, in the end it's not THAT bad, and I would probably do it if I were confident it wouldn't come to more than that. The problem is uncertainty. In those old posts, some people spoke of being charged as much as 50%, in one case maybe even 100%.

yes it is the landed costs. The product value when it is here. A bit strange logic but therefor it adds the shipping costs.

And the VAT is charged of product+shipping+duty. So you pay the tax from the tax....

[weegee]

Thanks. I don't get why the shipping cost is included in the taxable sum, but that's consistent with what some said in the earlier discussion. If this were the total, in the end it's not THAT bad, and I would probably do it if I were confident it wouldn't come to more than that. The problem is uncertainty. In those old posts, some people spoke of being charged as much as 50%, in one case maybe even 100%.

yes it is the landed costs. The product value when it is here. A bit strange logic but therefor it adds the shipping costs.

And the VAT is charged of product+shipping+duty. So you pay the tax from the tax....

I sure did....thought it was worth passing on to mangolover...

By the way...you are also TAXED on the clearance charges that Fedex tack on as well

[harrry]

Shoes are the worst.....very very high duty clothes are high too. Other stuff is reasonably within International levels of customs duty.

[seajae]

work boots landed in Bangkok from the UK, 700 baht, custom fees required to release them, 1200 baht. Showed the receipt for the boots and delivery charges but they said they think they are worth more than that so they go with their figure, under 1000 baht is supposed to be no charges as well but that doesnt get them any tea money

[mogandave]

People try to cheat them constantly, then squeak when they get caught.